tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post7313203310268008800..comments2024-03-10T00:44:49.280-05:00Comments on This & That: Iraqi Refugees in Syria and LebanonSusannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-89419897892092073162011-11-22T19:09:51.152-05:002011-11-22T19:09:51.152-05:00Oh, I would love to hear your stories although the...Oh, I would love to hear your stories although they are sad. Thanks for sharing your perspective as one who has been there and seen things with her own eyes! So interesting...and tough. :-/<br /><br />Yeah, I can see how you would not be overly-popular with that crowd (as a soldier).Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-31614376223699040832011-11-20T23:41:32.592-05:002011-11-20T23:41:32.592-05:00I have read a ton of news articles on the subject ...I have read a ton of news articles on the subject and watched videos about the women working in strip clubs around Damascus. It is truly sad, but they provide no help for them. They are left with finding any way possible to survive. Of course, the extremists refuse to consider any of this. There s so much I could say on the subject. While visiting Syria, my husband had an appointment at the UNHCR. I thought it would be like appointments we have here, bt it was so different. I stood outside with him and 500 other Iraqi refugees who were alltold to come the same day. The UN ended up not being able to see everyone (including my husband) and gave them all a new appointment for two months later. This was just to register as a refugee, not even counting trying to come back for aid! He had waited three months just to get that first appointment. <br /><br />I felt so bad, it fhose people had found out I was a US soldier who had deloyed to Iraq, I could have hardly blamed them for their reaction. Instead, I just kept my mouth shut and waited patiently in the heat with the others so they never even knew I was American (the UN provide no waiting area or protection from the elements while you're sitting outside their building). The entire situation they are in is awful. I'm thankful most of my husband's family has gotten refugee visas to Western countries. They may be split up between the US, Australia, and Sweden, but at least they're safe and can move on with their lives! So many others have not been so lucky. Of course, I could get into the hardships refugees face after arriving into the US, which is nearly as bad, but that is a whole other issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-64385650669958378362011-11-20T16:44:17.665-05:002011-11-20T16:44:17.665-05:00Yay, I'm glad it worked! I'd missed your c...Yay, I'm glad it worked! I'd missed your comments and hate that you were not able to post on the other one! How disappointing.<br /><br />Yes, it's horrible about the women having to use prostitution, but for me it's also horrible that men will use the women yet threaten them if they dare come back home after having been used by them. Such hypocrisy of men annoys me to no end.<br /><br />Thanks for trying again and I'm glad you succeeded! :)Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-87286959131220847742011-11-20T12:49:17.554-05:002011-11-20T12:49:17.554-05:00Yay! I was able to post!!!!!!!!!!
Still sad for t...Yay! I was able to post!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Still sad for the women though :(Suroorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07151400258859526990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-740924465958245224.post-1343952903682707712011-11-20T12:48:30.064-05:002011-11-20T12:48:30.064-05:00I'm commenting from work so let's see if i...I'm commenting from work so let's see if it works :)<br /><br />The bit about women prostituting to be able to support their children is heartbreaking :( It made me very very sad :(<br /><br />Maybe before the American invasion such women were not in these kinds of situations. Maybe life was better for them, really?Suroorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07151400258859526990noreply@blogger.com